Improvement in safety-fuse compositions



- UNITED STATES PATE T OFF CE.

EDWIN GOMEZ AND lVM. MILLS, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

. IMPROVEMENT IN SAFETY-FUSE COMPOSITIONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 8, I99, dated September 15, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWIN GOMEZ and WILLIAM MILLs, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented, made, and applied to use a new and useful Improvement in Safety Train or Fuse; and we do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the nature of our said invention and the manner of compounding and making said fuse.

Safety-fuse used for blasting, firing cannon, mortars, and other purposes is generally costly and comparatively slow in its operation, and hence very many accidents have occurred from the attendants supposing the fuse had ceased to burn and they have gone to examine just as the explosion took place. Besides this, many accidents have occurred in consequence of the case surrounding the fuse becoming ignited and sometimes setting fire to the articles with which it comes in contact, or causing an explosion by coming in contact with powder.

The nature of our said invention consists of a particular explosive compound, which, when inclosed in a suitable casing, forms a train that will ignite and burn or explode with the greatest possible speed.

Our safety train or fuse is perfectly safe in use, as it will not detonate except under a very heavy blow, and will not communicate fire to its inclosing-case or to any article except gunpowder or similar materials; hence it will travel with enormous speed tothe end of the train in all cases if the fuse be properly made, and if said fuse does not instantly explode to the end of the train it is known that the same is entirely out, having been defective at one point, and there is no danger from going immediately and connecting another piece of fuse.

The composition of which I make my fuse is prepared as follows: Take equal parts of chlorate of potash in fine powder and ferrocyanide of lead, (which latter is formed by precipitating a solution of nitrate of lead with an equivalent quantity of solution of ferrocyanide of potash.) These two substances in about equal proportions we mix with alcohol .to the consistence of a paint and apply with a camels-hair pencil or any similar device to a strip of paper or equivalent material, which is to be incased in a winding of fibrous material, tape, or similar substance that will keep the powder in its place when dry; and we prefer that the winding should be coated with shellac or other varnish to resist moisture, although the train or fuse thus formed will explode when slightly damp, and will not be injured in its ex losive qualities by being wetted if it be driec before using.

The line painted or formed of this compound need not be over one-tenth of an inch inwidth, and about two grains to the foot will be found sufficient. The safety train or fuse thus formed will be found to be exceedingly rapid in its ignition and cheap in its manufacture, can be used forgiving signals to great distances by night or by day, for blasting, forcannons and mortars, for setting off fire-works, and for a great variety of other purposes; or the powder formed as above specified might be used in place of gunpowder or other explosive compounds, although specially adapted to the manufacture of train or fuse.

WVhat we claim as our invent-ion, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The explosive compound for safety-trains, fuses, and similar purposes formed of the in gredients and substantially in the manner specified. I

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our signatures this 18th day of July, 1857.

EDW'IN GOMEZ. WVILLIAM MILLS.

Witnesses:

LEMUEL W. SERRELL, THOMAS G. HAROLD. 

